0
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has opened a new investigation into the origin of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Spain, after receiving today the report from the EU reference laboratory detailing the genome sequencing results of the ASF virus.
This is a complementary investigation to the one started on November 28, the date on which the ASF outbreak was detected in Cerdanyola del Vallés (Barcelona).
The report from the Animal Health Research Center (CISA-INIA) in Valdeolmos (Madrid), the EU reference laboratory, includes the molecular characterization obtained by sequencing the genome of the ASF virus and compares it with the various African swine fever viruses detected throughout the European Union.
All viruses currently circulating in the Member States belong to genetic groups 2-28, and not to the new genetic group 29, to which the virus responsible for the outbreak in the province of Barcelona belongs. This strain is very similar to genetic group 1, which circulated in Georgia in 2007.
Viruses, under natural conditions, undergo changes in their genome to varying degrees when they spread through infection cycles in animals. Therefore, the discovery of a virus similar to the one that circulated in Georgia does not rule out the possibility that it originated from a biological containment facility.
The “Georgia 2007” virus strain is a “reference” virus that is frequently used in experimental infections in confinement facilities to conduct virus studies or to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines, which are currently under development.
The report suggests that the virus may not have originated in animals or animal products from any of the countries where the infection is currently present.
Therefore, the Directorate General for Agri-food Production Health and Animal Welfare of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has initiated the following actions:
1) Inform the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Civil Guard of the need to investigate these events, as the competent authority for the investigation of possible environmental infringements or crimes.
2) Initiate an investigation into the origin of the virus within the framework of Article 57.2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016.
December 5, 2025/ MAPA/ Spain.
https://www.mapa.gob.es
